The secret society of 1540 has remained a mystery to Loyola’s campus. Led by students, the society aims to keep their operations and members unknown to the public.
However, many have tried to pinpoint who are involved and why they are kept a secret. In 2009, alumnus and student journalist Eduardo Gonzalez investigated the organization and discovered that some student government leaders were asked to resign due to their involvement in 1540.
Although the secret society isn’t allowed at the university due to its lack of charter review, there have been reports of acts of kindness by the society.
Some of the society’s recorded actions have included sending letters of gratitude and support to members of Loyola’s community and financially assisting students in need.
In 2009, the society bought a plane ticket for a student who could not afford one, so the student could see their family, according to then student government president Sarah Cooper.
On Feb. 23, 2024, a Sodexo employee received a gift basket from the organization.
“I haven’t heard much of their activity other than their flyers,” professor Joshua Hinchie S.J. said.
Hinchie said he found a flyer that had been slipped under the door of the Catholic Studies lounge on Dec. 7, 2023, but did not know who it came from.
The flier read, “secreta societas Loiolae sumus,” which translates from Latin to English to “We are the secret society of Loyola.”
“We are who you think we are; we are who you think we are not,” the flier read.
The past or current members of 1540 may not ever be uncovered, but the community continues to speculate about their activity.
Despite the group not being a properly registered organization, which is mandatory for the rest of the chartered student organizations, the university does not recognize 1540.
Still, the Loyola community is left wondering… who’s behind 1540, and what’s next on their agenda?
